Brazos 360

SUMMER 2016

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PARTY PICS Photos from events & proms around town

WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE?

A peek at Ben Downs’ desk & treasures

LESSONS LEARNED FROM FURRY FRIENDS

360 PROFILES Garrett Wareing, Uri Geva & Adrienne Brundage

44 SEASON

EXPECT THE UN XPECTED

OPAS 2016-17 Variety reigns supreme this OPAS season with Tony Award-winning musicals, family-friendly holiday shows, the hottest trumpeter on the concert circuit, a world-renowned ballet company and much more. For a complete list of the events coming to the 44th season of OPAS, visit www.MSCOPAS.org.

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PERFORMANCES!

Photo: © Joan Marcus

RUSSIAN NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE

AN EVENING WITH LYLE LOVETT AND HIS LARGE BAND SAT, AUG 27

7:30 PM • Rudder Auditorium

THE ILLUSIONISTS: LIVE FROM BROADWAY

CHRIS BOTTI LIVE IN CONCERT

JERSEY BOYS

WED-SUN, FEB 22-26

WED, NOV 30

7:30 PM • Rudder Auditorium Sponsored by

Direct from Moscow, Russia

ELF THE MUSICAL

performing Don Quixote

WED & THU, NOV 9 & 10 7:30 PM • Rudder Auditorium Sponsored by

TOM & MARY KIRK (McGregor, TX)

ONCE

TUE & WED, OCT 18 & 19 7:30 PM • Rudder Auditorium

Times Vary • Rudder Auditorium Sponsored locally by

See All 4 Broadway Shows for

RUSSIAN NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE

TUE & WED, APR 11 & 12 7:30 PM • Rudder Auditorium

WED, FEB 1

7:30 PM • Rudder Auditorium

TICKETS: MSC Box Office 979-845-1234 • MSCOPAS.org CITY OF B RYAN The Good Life, Texas Style.

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TM

BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

MSCOPAS

or F s U See e ! s m g o n i C v a er S

Summ

dealers lighting

an employee owned company Corner S. College & Koenig in Bryan

775-1697

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Inside Features 16

COVER STORY

What do our pets teach us?

More than you might think.

Take a look at what we found from pet owners in the community.

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RUDDER’S PET

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FIVE FUN FOOD FINDS

48

WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE?

Reveille rules the Texas A&M campus, but a bulldog named Ranger once did as well.

Try these interesting dishes at restaurants around town, including an alligator burger and a bacon doughnut.

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Get a peek at the treasures — from Star Trek to stolen pens — that decorate Ben Downs’ desk at Bryan Broadcasting.

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360 Profiles

Party Pics

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38 40 42 44 46

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GARRETT WAREING

of College Station now is on the big screen in the sequel to Independence Day.

URI GEVA has built the Brazos

Valley Bombers into champions, with games that are a familyfriendly summer treat.

ADRIENNE BRUNDAGE

spends her days as an entomology professor, and her nights as co-owner of New Republic.

Staff

50 Men Who Can Cook High school proms Brazos County Go Red Doing the Most Good Seniors Expo

PUBLISHER

Kelly Brown EDITOR

Sean Lewis

SALES DIRECTOR

Rob Clark

Departments 7 8 11 13 51

Crystal Dupré

Summer Fun for Kids Events Calendar Fourth of July Events By the Numbers The Last Word by Rob Clark

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR

Linda Brinkman

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Kim White DESIGNER

Timothy Hurst

PHOTOGRAPHER

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

The new Emergency & Trauma Center at CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan

W

e’re always here, always ready, always giving you our best.

When minutes count, where you go can make the critical difference. The new Emergency & Trauma Center at CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan is fully committed to providing you and your loved ones with

the fast response and exceptional care you need.

Our new 24,500-square-foot Emergency & Trauma Center provides spacious common areas and private treatment rooms that are more comfortable and large enough for your loved ones to stay right by your side.

Plus, we are one of only a handful of trauma centers in the nation that operates both ground and air ambulance service.

There’s a reason we’re the highest-level trauma center in the region. We’re always ready.

For more information visit Always.

CHIStJoseph.org

Advanced Emergency and Trauma Services Highest-level Trauma Center in 9 counties (Level II) Certified Primary Stroke Center since 2007 Accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI and Resuscitation N E W A D VA N C E D E M E R G E N C Y & T R AU M A C E N T E R

With less waiting time, spacious private rooms and the highest-level of care, we’re always ready.

Everything about our new Emergency & Trauma Center has been specially designed to optimize patient care and comfort.

Shorter wait times Private, spacious rooms Better access for seniors and those with special needs

ER.CHIStJosephHealth.org 2801 Franciscan Drive Bryan, Texas 77802

It all adds up to a better, more private and more comfortable patient experience from the leader in emergency care you’ve trusted for years.

Always here, always ready, always giving you our best.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

Regional Hospital

SUMMER SUMME R FUN for kids

Please note: Events are subject to change. Check the venue websites for full details.

AEROFIT

Weekly fit camps for firstthrough seventh-graders. 7:15 a.m. to 5: 45 p.m. $130 a week. Half-day camps $65 a week. aerofitclubs.com/summer-fit-camp.

ALLEN ACADEMY

Weeklong themed camps with a half-day option from 8 a.m. to noon. $170 for half day, $270 for a full day. Open to students who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade.

Sessions include cooking (June 27-July 1), science (July 11-15) and drama (July 18-22). Email hstclair@allenacademy.org.

BRAZOS VALLEY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Summer Nature Camp, divided by age groups. Weekly sessions 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $175 a week for nonmembers.

Themes include If Rocks Could Talk (June 27-July 1); Young Naturalist (July 4-8); All About Anatomy (July 11-15); Fabulous Flyers (July 25-29); Dinosaur Detectives (Aug. 1-5); Budding Gardeners (Aug. 8-12); Forces of Nature Aug. (15-19). brazosvalleymuseum.org/education.

BRAZOS VALLEY TROUPE

Weekly camp and classes in performing, designing sets, costumes, lighting and sound. bvtroupe.com.

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY Day or weeklong camps for

ages 4 to 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Themes include Holiday Camp (June 27-30), Top Chef Academy (July 11-15), Inventors Workshop (July 18-22), Time Travelers Camp (Aug. 1-5) and Team KIDS! Camp (Aug. 8-12). $40 a day or $190 a week. cmbv.org/summercamp. html.

CITY OF BRYAN CAMP H.E.R.O.

Weekly camps for ages 5-12.

7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Houston Elementary School. $100 a week or $25 per day. parks. bryantx.gov.

Themes include Deep in the Heart of Texas (June 27-July 1); America the Beautiful (July 4-8); Whiskers and Wags (July 11-15), Jump Around (July 18-22), Christmas in July (July 25-29), Critters and Creatures (Aug. 1-5) and Island Luau (Aug. 8-12).

CITY OF COLLEGE STATION

Mini camps in various locations. Register online at rectrac.cstx.gov or visit Stephen C. Beachy Central Park Office, 1000 Krenek Tap Road. No residency restrictions. $35-$145.

Themes include Abracadabra (July 25-29); Add Hot Water: Instant Comedy (July 11-16); Basketball/Agility (June 27July 1); Cheer Camp (July 1115); Crazy Critter Camp (June 27-July 1); Creating a Writing Life (June 27-30); Drama Kids: Make Them Laugh (July 1822); Drama Kids: Once Upon A Time (June 27-July 1); Drama Kids: Superhero: (July 2529); Harry Potter Magic (July 11-15); Musical Mathematics

(July 25-29); Outdoor Wilderness Survival Day Camp (July 11-15); Pocket Brick Monsters (July 18-22); Sizzlin’ Science (July 6-8). For more details on times, prices and age ranges, go rectrac.cstx.gov.

GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Camps for ages 7 to 11 to engage young learners in U.S. history and government. Weekly camps July 11 to Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $30 a day or $150 a week. bush41.org.

LITTLE BELLE CAMP

A&M Consolidated Bengal Belle dance camp is Aug. 1-4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at College Station Middle School. Preregistration deadline is July 8. $100 preregistration, $110 after preregistration. bengalbelles. weebly.com.

POWERSPORTS

Weekly camps for ages 2-5 or 5-10. 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. $40 a day or $150 a week. powersportskids.com/daycamp.php.

SEAD ACADEMY

Weekly camps, including Books Alive! Giraffes Can’t Dance (June 27-July 1), Empty Stage (June 27-July 1), It’s All About That Glass (July 5-8). $140$285. seadacademy.agxdev. com.

SPIRIT ICE ARENA

Weekly camp for children ages 5 to 12. 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $30 a day, $150 a week. spirit icearena.com.

THREE BROTHERS STABLE

Four one-week camps through July for children 7 to 15 who don’t have much experience riding horses. 8 a.m. to noon. $140 for the week.

3brothers.vpweb.com.

THUNDER ELITE

Weekly camps with field trips, arts and crafts and sports for ages 5 and up. 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. $35 a day, $140 a week. thunderelitecollegestation. com.

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SUMMER 2016

Local Events

Please note: Events are subject to change. Check the venue websites for full details.

College Station. $1. cinemark. com.

SUMMER MOVIE CLUBHOUSE

The free concert series hosted by the City of College Station wraps up with its “Voter's Choice” show. At press time, the winner of the band contest had not been announced.

Coolers and containers allowed (no larger than 48 quarts).

Concessions available. Parking is at Post Oak Mall. Blanket-only seating areas and chair areas are available. No pets are allowed.

Details: July 2; gates open at 6 p.m. and show begins at 7 at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater, 1015 Colgate Drive, College

In addition to the flood of summer movies, Cinemark offers other films for kids.

• June 28-30: Pan • July 5-7: Home • July 12-14: The Box Trolls • July 19-21: The Sandlot • July 26-28: Norm of the North • Aug. 2-4: Shaun the Sheep Movie Details: Tuesdays through Thursdays at 10 a.m. through Aug. 4. at Cinemark Movies, 1401 Earl Rudder Freeway S.,

STARLIGHT MUSIC SERIES

‘Jurassic World’ Universal Pictures

Station. Free. cstx.gov.

MOVIES IN THE PARK

The City of College Station presents Jurassic World projected on a 32-foot inflatable high-definition screen. Bring blankets, chairs and coolers that are 48 quarts or smaller.

Pets are welcome.

Details: Aug. 12, gates open at 7:30 p.m. Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater, 1015 Colgate Drive, College Station. Free. cstx.gov.

MESSINA HOF HARVEST FESTIVAL

The winery has several events to celebrate the fall harvest. For more information: messinahof. com.

• Daytime Harvest: Features grape-picking and stomping, tours, tastings, a lunch buffet and a food-and-wine pairing class. July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 13, Aug. 14, Aug. 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. $35 to $75.

• Moonlit Harvest: The

Mattress Sleepcenters NEXT TO THE ENTRANCE TO POST OAK MALL

1402 Harvey road • 979-696-3900 WWW.MATTRESSSLEEPCENTERS.NET 8

BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

Blessing of the Vines, grape picking and stomping and a dinner featuring a vineyard cuisine buffet and a selection of wines. July 29 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. $59.95.

• Murder Mystery: The winery partners with the Texas Renaissance Festival for this dinner theater event. July 30 and Aug. 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. $69.95.

• Battle of the Blends: Guests can get hands-on experience of wine blending, and participate in blind tastings. Aug. 5 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. $69.95.

• Dinner at Dusk: A specialty wine dinner among the grapevines in the vineyard, with a three-course meal paired with wines. Aug. 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. $69.95.

• Grand Finale Gala: Features a menu presented by The Vintage House chef. Guests can have the first taste of the new wine releases. Aug. 20

ous Chicken Ranch in LaGrange.

Details: Aug. 5-21. Fridays through Sundays at 7 p.m., matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. $20 general admission, $15 matinees, $15 seniors and students, $5 children 12 and younger. www. theatrecompany.com.

LYLE LOVETT AND HIS LARGE BAND LYLE LOVETT Eagle file photo

from 7 to 10 p.m. $99.95.

LIBRARY ISSUES FORUM

Military historian Mike Guardia will discuss his book The Fires of Babylon: Eagle Troop and the Battle of 73 Easting, about the charge into Iraq and Operation Desert Storm.

Details: Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Bush Library and Museum’s orientation theater. Reception

and signing afterward in the rotunda. Free; reservations recommended. Register at bushlibrary.eventbrite.com.

691-4014. bush41.org.

‘THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS’

The Theatre Company presents the musical by Larry L. King, Peter Masterson and Carol Hall, which was based on the notori-

Any visit from the Grammy-winning Texas A&M graduate is a treat, but bringing along his ultra-talented Large Band makes it even better. The instrumentation is fantastic, and his backup vocalists nearly steal the show.

And of course, Lovett as a frontman is hard to top. MSC OPAS brings the whole crew in as the first event in its 44th season.

Details: Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $26-$65. mscopas.org. continued on Page 11

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

EVENTS

Eagle file photo

'I LOVE AMERICA' CELEBRATION

The College Station Noon Lions Club’s annual fireworks show (above) is accompanied by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. The free event also features a selfie booth, train rides, kids activities, live music, entry to the museum and library and a speech by Rep. Bill Flores.

Details: July 4 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, 1000 George Bush Drive W., College Station. Free.

FIREWORKS ON THE BRAZOS

KURTEN FIREWORKS SHOW

The District 2 Volunteer Fire Department presents this H-E-B presents this event with event with children’s activities, crafts for children, interactive music, a cake walk, gun raffle, historic re-enactments, a free concert by the Cody Bryan Band silent auction and food. The from 7 to 9 p.m. and a fireworks event will open at 3 p.m. and a fireworks show begins 30 show around 9:30 p.m. minutes after dark.

Details: July 4 from 10 a.m. to Details: July 4 at 3 p.m. at 10 p.m. at Washington on the Kurten Community Center, Brazos State Historic Site. En13055 Texas 21, Kurten. Free. trance to the park and parking are free, but admission fees ap- www.district2vfd.org. ply to Barrington Farm and the Star of the Republic Museum and tours of Independence Hall. wheretexasbecametexas.org.

NAVASOTA CITY PARADE AND INDEPENDENCE DAZE

Bring bikes, wagons, skates, pets and more to this annual parade. The Navasota Center will have free carnival games, a joy jump, free food and drinks, music and more.

Details: July 4, the parade begins at 10 a.m. at Prosperity Bank, and the Independence Daze begins at 10:30 at the Navasota Center, 101 Stadium Drive, Navasota. Free. www. navasotatx.gov/events.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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The Eagle presents

A R P A T D E E P The Eagle is looking for pictures of your pet lounging around, causing mischief or snoozing in the sun. Submissions could be printed in the paper or found on theeagle.com.

Send your cutest pet photo to news@ theeagle.com and we’ll print a selection every Sunday. Please include the owner’s name and hometown, pet’s name and names of anyone in the photograph.

EMAIL: news@theeagle.com 12

BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

SUBJECT: Pet Parade

By the Numbers

4 That’s the number of dog parks in Bryan-College Station.

(Steeplechase Park, University Park, Lick Creek Park, Morris “Buss” Hamilton Park). Take your furry friend for a summer adventure and see all the other dogs out there. There’s a good chance you’ll eventually find a pup named Max, as that was the most popular male dog name in 2015, according to rover.com’s top 100 list. Charlie, Buddy, Cooper and Jack round out the top five. The 100th most popular: Chewy. For female dogs, Bella takes the top spot, followed

by Lucy, Daisy, Molly and Lola. Coming in at No. 100: Nikki.

3.5 million 50 The number of stitches on Kaboom, the eternally cheerful mascot of the Brazos Valley Bombers.

And there’s a story that goes with that, according to the Bombers’ website.

Kaboom was involved in “a freak baseball accident that required 50 red stitches,” according to the site. He decided to keep the stitches “to remind himself of his passion for baseball.” Other fun facts: Kaboom’s favorite song is The Doors’ Light My Fire, and his favorite quote is “You’re the bomb, baby!” The mascot is a popular figure at Bombers games and around town. Bombers owner Uri Geva says Kaboom’s dance card is usually filled with appearances around the community.

We don’t mean to be a nag mag, but that’s the number of non-melanoma skin cancer cases that are diagnosed each year, according to the American Cancer Society. That number is greater than all other cancers combined.

So please, be smart and wear sunscreen.

If you’re one of those lucky types who gets a nice golden hue each summer — “I don’t burn, I tan” — look out, because you’re not exempt. And of young adults (18-24), just 60 percent used some kind of sun protection (sunscreen, protective clothing, staying in the shade) in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

07/01 That’s the date that Texas A&M officially joined the Southeastern Conference in 2012, and what a glorious day it was.

The Aggies were finally free of DeLoss Dodds’ chest-thumping for Texas and the silly attempts of Baylor’s Ken Starr to block the move. A&M no longer has to deal with the bickering and whining from Austin and Waco, or be bothered by the Big 12’s seemingly constant troubles.

There’s no question that many current and former students would like to see the Texas rivalry resume in football. There’s also no question that A&M is a better fit in the SEC, and the new road trips and opponents have made for an interesting and often exciting transition.

652.3 million That’s how much Jurassic World made in 2015, making it the highest-grossing summer movie, according to AMC’s filmsite.org.

Watch Chris Pratt try to train velociraptors — like you do — on Aug. 12 at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater.

Rounding out the alltime summer top 10: Marvel’s The Avengers ($623.4 million), The Dark Knight ($534.8 million), Avengers: Age of Ultron ($459 million), The Dark Knight Rises ($448.1 million), Shrek 2 ($441.2 million), Star Wars: Episode I ($431.1 million), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest ($423.3 million), Toy Story 3 ($415 million), Iron Man 3 ($409 million).

— ROB CLARK

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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360 Profile

Know an interesting nominee for a future Brazos 360 proямБle? Email us at brazos360@theeagle.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS EVAN

GARRETT WAREING

Hollywood dreams Story ELIZABETH KAMENICKY

G

arrett Wareing of College Station made his film debut in 2014, in a small movie with an all-star cast. Two years later, he’s sharing the screen with aliens.

The 14-year-old actor and model appears in Independence Day: Resurgence — the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 sci-fi hit Independence Day. Resurgence, which opened June 24 — adds Wareing and other fresh faces to the returning cast from the original, including Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Vivica A. Fox. Wareing plays a boy named Bobby, who seeks refuge with the president of the United States and his family when the aliens attack.

The acting bug began for Wareing after joining the drama program at Oakwood Intermediate School in College Station, where he learned from theater teacher Heidi Amestoy.

“I think, at some point in everyone’s life, they want to be an actor, and it was no different for me,” he said in a recent phone interview. “In Oakwood, once I got into the drama scene, it was like an opening into a new world.”

Amestoy, who keeps in touch with Wareing, says that he enjoys observing each step of filmmaking closely while on set, including getting behind-the-scenes looks at Resurgence.

“I expect him to not only be a great actor — which he already is — but to be a great director one day,” Amestoy said. “He just takes anything and does great things with it.”

Wareing’s father, Robert, took Garrett to local talent scout Nikki Pederson, who also helped launch the careers of Bryan’s Rico Rodriguez (ABC’s Modern Family) and his sister Raini (Austin and Ally and the Paul Blartt movies). Pederson worked with Wareing for about eight months to hone his acting skill, and said she knew he was going to excel in acting.

“Garrett was one of a few exceptional kids who was not afraid to work,” Pederson said. “He became super talented because he loved it so much. I just know he is going to be a mega, mega star.”

Wareing and his siblings (Mackenzie and Mason, also budding performers) acted and modeled for talent agents and managers at the 2013 International Modeling and Talent Association convention in Los Angeles. Pederson

Jeff Gold b and Garr lum (left) ett Ware ing in a scen e from Indepen d e nc e D ay: Resurge n c e.

Courtesy of Peter Iovino

said Wareing was the “most sought after” performer at the event. He ultimately signed with 23 Management Group, a talent company based in Los Angeles.

In 2013, the family of five uprooted from College Station and moved to Hollywood, to “take it to the next step,” Wareing said. After five months, Wareing said he slowly started getting more auditions and callbacks, and landed the lead role in Hear My Song — which was originally titled Boychoir — alongside veteran actors Kathy Bates and Dustin Hoffman. (Hoffman earned his first Oscar nomination in 1967, 35 years before Wareing was born.)

“They were not my generation of actors,” Wareing said.

“It was great to be introduced into their world, and it was such an influential part in my career.”

Early last year, Wareing landed the part in Resurgence, and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, throughout the summer. The experience involved all the sci-fi trademarks, including explosions and chase scenes that required him to act in front of a colored-screen background, so that computer-generated imagery could be added later.

Wareing said it was “amazing” to work closely with the actors and director Roland Emmerich, and he was fascinated by the filmmaking process.

“I am really interested in all aspects of filmmaking,” he said. “I was invited on set each day and was trying to learn everything I could.”

In between auditions and acting gigs, Wareing says he enjoys gardening and extreme martial arts. He is writing a screenplay, and looking to further enhance his acting resume. Having determination and motivation is the key to success, he says.

“Everybody wants to do something in their life, so just go out there and do it,” he said. “I picked up everything and went to Los Angeles to pursue this far-fetched dream, and it has been amazing.”

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Photo TIMOTHY HURST

Life s n o s Les 16

Forget about what tricks we teach our pets. Let’s get down to what our pets have taught us.

An estimated 80 million households in the United States have at least one pet — mostly dogs, followed closely by cats, with birds and horses trailing far behind.

Brazos 360 recognizes the importance these pets play in the lives of adults and children, so we asked a few animal lovers in Bryan-College Station to detail what life lessons they’ve gleaned from their fur babies.

The following are their stories — in their own words.

Dr. Eleanor M. Green

Jay Socol

Dean of Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Communications director, City of College Station

‘Soul has been awakened’

‘Trust him with every ounce of my being’

Animals are the great teachers of life, if we listen.

They are pure of intent, loyal, nonjudgmental and forgiving.

They have certainly enriched my life. I grew up in an animalfriendly home and cannot remember not having animals — many animals of many different species. They taught me about work ethic, responsibility, winning and losing, fairness, compassion, and unconditional love. They taught me about patience and how to treat others.

Horses have always been my passion, and I have not been without a horse since I was 7 years old. There is little more exhilarating than riding, being completely at one with a horse, which responds softly to every subtle aid. I heard a great horseman once say that horses never mess up and always do what you ask them to do. If they are not doing what you want, you are not asking correctly. Now there is a lesson for life.

While I have never been without a dog, 10 years ago, a very special 6-week-old miniature pinscher puppy came into my life. Cohen — named after the Canadian poet, composer, and singer Leonard Cohen — captured my heart.

Every single day he brings me joy and makes me laugh.

His antics and routines are a constant source of amusement, while his goodness makes me melt. He is a fun, affable, little guy who loves everyone. He has gone everywhere with me, regardless of venue or mode of travel, and never fails to draw comments about how good he is. In 2009, Cohen and I moved to Texas together, so now Cohen is a proud Aggie.

There will never be another like him.

Anatole France once said, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” My soul has been awakened over and over and over.

Animals are what led me to a career in veterinary medicine — and that’s what fulfi lls me every single day.

Aside from the horned toads I’d catch and keep in a shoebox for a few days at a time, I never had a pet while growing up in the small, West Texas town of Breckenridge.

Two reasons: Pets would make a mess indoors, and they’d certainly ruin the yard, according to my father, The Lawn Ranger.

My case for getting a dog really fell apart when I was severely bitten twice during my elementary school years. The first was a dachshund with a Cujo-like attitude. The result: 30 stitches in my right cheek. The second was a border collie that missed my carotid artery by only millimeters. Interestingly, as the border collie was attacking me, its mother probably saved my life — running over to fight its own full-grown offspring until it let go of my neck.

Needless to say, I’ve been skittish around dogs ever since and am unapologetic for discouraging my son, Grant, from getting too close to any dog’s face.

So, you can imagine how tough the decision was to get my — I mean, Grant’s — first dog. Tiger, as Grant would insist his new pet be named, was only a few months old when we got him — a beagle-terrier mix, we think – from a rescue shelter in Hearne.

Seven years later, Tiger is my buddy, makes me laugh, and loves after-work walks as much as I do. More than that, I trust him with every ounce of my being to be gentle with all living creatures. In fact, the entire neighborhood knows and loves Tiger — he’s a happy friend to everyone.

My dad was right: Tiger sheds the equivalent of a new dog every single day inside the house, and there are plenty of holes in the back yard because — who knew? — beagles like to dig.

Still beats a horned toad in a shoebox any day.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

17

Matt Simon

Dr. Darby Roberts

Director of digital media, 12th Man Productions

Director of Student Life Studies at Texas A&M

‘Made me a better person’

‘Part of my family’

I’m obsessed with my dog — and I’m proud to admit it.

I adopted Sam, a lab-boxer mix, as a puppy from a friend just over three years ago.

“He’ll be a great dog,” my friend said.

He was wrong. He’s more than a great dog — he’s an amazing dog, so sweet and so gentle.

Sometimes I think that it took me too long to get a dog.

But then, maybe getting Sam was just the plan all along.

I’d always heard the buzz words and catch phrases like “man’s best friend” and “unconditional love” and all that. I knew I’d always wanted a dog, and I thought I’d be a good dog owner, but the excuses piled up. I don’t have the time for one. I don’t want it peeing on everything. I’d like to sleep through the night. And so on.

Thus it took me more than 15 years out of college before I finally pulled the trigger. I don’t have the time or space to list all the reasons that Sam has made me a better person.

The biggest: putting something’s well-being before my own.

Was I selfish? At times. But I think all of us are to some degree — that’s human nature. Was I self-centered? Definitely. And raising Sam has taught me to put someone else’s well-being first.

That’s just one way he’s made my life better. No matter the day I’ve had, I’ll always have a wagging tail and pure joy waiting for me when I walk through that door.

When taking him to the park I see how happy and carefree he is. And that in turn brings me happiness. I get to provide him with food in his bowl and a roof over his head. He’s completely dependent on me, and that is humbling.

Those buzz words, those catch phrases? Man’s best friend — you bet. Unconditional love — absolutely.

I’m proud to be obsessed with my Sam. He’s the best thing I’ve ever done in life.

I adopted my dog, Z.Z., when I moved back to College Station. I had grown up with dogs, but she was the first dog all my own. She was a 10-month-old catahoula/cocker spaniel mix who lived to be 16 ½. Over the years, she enhanced my life and taught me lessons I carry with me today.

When I first adopted Z.Z., she was not housetrained, did not know any commands and did not know the correct toys to chew on. As we worked together, I learned patience and forgiveness. After the destruction of three remote controls, a new pair of running shoes and a bean bag chair, she figured out that those were not her toys, and I learned to put things out of reach. She had a few accidents in the house in the beginning but took to learning commands like a champ.

I believe in lifelong learning, and so did Z.Z. Even in her later years, Z.Z. learned new tricks and commands, even after she lost most of her hearing and then her eyesight. She could balance a treat on her nose and then catch it. She knew the difference between shaking hands and high fives.

You really can teach old dogs new tricks!

Dogs can also teach us about how to get along with others.

Z.Z. was gentle, but also taught younger dogs manners. She didn’t need to bark to make her point. She could read emotions and knew when to provide a lick and a wag to cheer you up.

Although Z.Z. survived a rare form of cancer twice (thanks to the Texas A&M Vet School and Wellborn Road Veterinary Medical Center), she could not live forever. I was heartbroken to say goodbye, but I knew she had a full life, and she fi lled my life. I still think about her and the loss I felt, but it has given me a better perspective about life and death. My two current dogs certainly have not replaced Z.Z., but they have also given me joy and more life lessons.

Dogs are part of my family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

18

Scott DeLucia

Grant Carrabba

‘Infomaniacs’ host on WTAW & Bryan businessman

Developer & builder in Bryan

‘Like a Disney movie come to life’

‘Life will be changed’

I’ve actually had dogs all my life.

My dad graduated with a DVM from A&M back in the day, but when you are a kid all you want to do with a dog is play a little and move on. Making them a part of my life every day really didn’t happen until I plunged into the world of my wife, Jacque Flagg, and her dachshunds. These funny little wiener dogs are one of a few breeds that most any child can recognize.

Jacque had four, or five, I don’t remember. But my chocolate lab, Bray, and I soon became part of the pack. Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers, so they might not be the classic lap puppy. I regularly say ours “don’t play well with others.” But each has their own personality when they are one on one with you, or in the pack, which currently consists of Tigger, 14, Daisy, 8, Rory, 7, and Maggie, 2 — all rescues.

A group of dogs who share your house do have their differences though, and like children, we knew what it meant to have favorites.

Pay attention: A dog will communicate with you as well as any person, and sometimes, they will care for you more.

Over the years there have been some really memorable times, like when one son was deployed to Korea, we kept his Great Dane for two years. Walking wiener dogs and a Dane around the neighborhood made for smiles from onlookers every time.

It was like a Disney movie come to life.

But there were sad days as well, like the time I had to tell a vet over the phone to put down my favorite dog 10 minutes before I left for work to play a happy guy on the radio.

After I came home from surgery once, one of the dogs never took her eyes off of me for the entire weekend, until she knew I was OK. My dogs had the ability and love and care before they came to my house. All I had to do was give them the opportunity to show it.

We adopted Snuff les from the animal shelter and, at the time, I had no idea how much Snuff les would impact my life. As a 10-year-old kid in 1994, patience was not my strong suit. But over the next several months of training him, I learned a valuable lesson on patience. He was the sweetest dog, but had a stubborn side — just like me.

The reason no one wanted Snuff les was because he would sneeze and cough nonstop, hence the name. After a few Benadryl — vet prescribed — everything cleared up. We think he was about a year old when we got him and he was with us until the spring of 2007.

I recommend everyone adopt a dog, and if you get a fraction of the love that dog showed, your life will be changed. And to think he was passed up because of a little cough.

Snuff les had a personality that could make anyone smile, no matter how bad of a day you were having. He would wait at the door for us to get home and wouldn’t stop giving puppy kisses until he was ready to stop.

I didn’t realize it until several years ago, but that dog taught me multiple life lessons on how to treat people.

He was never mean to anyone and always protected his family. He did everything he could to cheer someone up and would not leave your side if you were sick.

These basic core values of loving thy neighbor were truly spectacular lessons, courtesy of Snuff les.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

19

Carolyn Young Development director at Aggieland Humane Society

‘Unconditional love’ My greatest life lesson was the reward that came from a tarnished penny. It’s feelings that are in my heart.

I haven’t had a pet in my home for many years. I didn’t understand letting a pet sleep on my bed. I didn’t understand leaving someplace early to rush home to feed a pet. I didn’t understand letting a pet lick my hands.

Turns out what I really didn’t understand was unconditional love, the joy of a gentle nudge of a wet nose on my hand, the look of total

trust from a pair of big black eyes.

I was around people with pets and decided to adopt a pet for me.

At Aggieland Humane I came across a beautiful black mixed breed dog. He was the right size. His fur was the right length. He was calm and I thought that was important to me.

I purchased everything I needed and brought him home. I set up his kennel and he immediately went in. I had to use treats to get him out. He was so shy. I wanted him to be comfortable in his new home and with me. I tried to keep him in the same room with me so he would get to know me. When I had the door of his kennel closed, he found a dark corner of my closet and claimed it as his alternate safety zone.

My pup had been abused and tossed away like he didn’t matter.

Nobody valued him for all he had to offer. He was scared all the time. He didn’t trust anyone. But I was determined! We went to training classes. I learned his eating and potty schedule. He learned I will never hurt him.

So back to my greatest life lesson. My sweet puppy dog! Here was one of God’s creatures that had been mistreated and thrown out. It wasn’t his fault. I will always be thankful this tarnished penny came into my life.

He taught me what unconditional love is.

I can be late feeding him. I can fuss at him for digging a hole in the yard or chewing on the arm of a chair. But just moments later when I call him, he comes running. And all I need to do is scratch behind his ear or under his jaw or cup his face in my hands and kiss his nose or just look him in the eye and tell him I love him.

My pet is my life lesson. That lesson is we all have value.

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EEXPERIENCE THE TRADITION 20

BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

‘Living for something other than yourself’ I have been inspired by dogs, but it started with one very special one. I was hooked by a picture and a story of an abandoned, scrawny, sickly white pup behind shelter bars.

At three months old, she didn’t weigh much, had digestive issues and the first vet we visited told me he didn’t know if she would survive. She showed signs of starvation and abuse. That’s when I realized people can be awful to even the cutest, most innocent of creatures.

Brie was my first pet as an adult. I was a very serious graduate student and had no idea what I had taken on. I lived in a second-floor apartment with roommates, worked two jobs, went to class, studied and slept a little.

The first lesson Brie taught me was that not everyone should own a pet, and sometimes you simply aren’t in the right place in life to own one. All puppies are cute, and all puppies grow up, some larger than you expect.

But I don’t give up easily, and this girl had captured my heart.

That’s when the real life lessons began.

She taught me the significance of being responsible, for living for something other than yourself.

She taught me to love unconditionally and laugh uncontrollably.

I learned to relax and enjoy what’s important in life. A little dog hair on your clothes won’t hurt anyone, and a short walk or trip to the park makes any day better.

Today, Miss Brie is the liveliest, healthiest 13-year-old dog I know. It’s because of her I adopted three more dogs; foster sick, elderly and shy dogs; and volunteer with animal care agencies.

Lauren Hargis Business manager at Texas A&M Department of Student Activities

Brie taught me how to be a more patient, understanding and compassionate person.

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21

Ranger pictured with John Choate.

Photo courtesy of John Choate

RANGER

Former Texas A&M president’s bold bulldog captured hearts across campus 22

Ranger, the beloved pet bulldog of former Texas A&M president Gen. James Earl Rudder, is buried on campus.

Story and Photos STEVE KUHLMANN

R

eveille is unquestionably the top dog on the Texas A&M campus. But she wasn’t always the sole target of Aggies’ affection.

Under the presidency of Gen. James Earl Rudder, Miss Rev was challenged in her status by a lovable bulldog named Ranger. The Rudder family pet hardly acted like it, however, roaming the campus with free rein.

John Choate, an animal science major at the time, fondly remembers the dog, who was also known by the nickname “Earl.” Choate, Aggie Class of ’67, said Ranger largely ignored the dog house outside the president’s house, and instead made the entire campus his home. That included sleeping in dorm rooms and eating scraps given to him in the mess halls.

“Ranger was a real character,” Choate said. “He kind of had the run of the campus and nobody bothered him. He lived life kind of slow — I never saw him run anywhere. He just ambled along.”

The unofficial mascot did get a chance to fi ll in for the official one: On Oct. 9, 1965, Ranger replaced the ailing Reveille II during a home football game against the University of Houston.

According to The Eagle, “before the evening was over, Ranger tripped a half dozen bandsmen, attacked a bass drummer and went after the U of H Cougar, all of which delighted the Aggies.”

The Aggies won, 10-7.

Choate recruited Ranger to serve as the mascot for non-Corps students in a charity football game that

same semester. It was the first year that the Corps became voluntary for all students, and the game pitted the “non-regs” against the cadets.

Ranger paraded the sidelines adorned with a coat that read “Non-Regs,” made by Choate’s mother over Thanksgiving break. The team lost, but Choate said he and the bulldog had a “splendid time” together.

Maybe the bulldog’s most peculiar and memorable trait was his penchant for hitching rides around town.

Here’s how Ranger would make it happen, as described in a 1965 Battalion story: “First, the cunning rogue stations himself in striking position near a curb. When a likely-looking auto comes, the chase is on.”

Once he had the driver’s attention, Ranger would post himself in front of the vehicle, waiting until he got his way and was allowed to climb inside for a ride, according to the story.

“If they didn’t stop or somebody didn’t go out and get him, that dog would have walked in front of that car all the way to wherever that car was going,” Choate said.

“It was hilarious.”

The 7-year-old Ranger died on Dec. 9, 1965, from a kidney infection after emergency surgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine, according to The Eagle.

Ranger was later succeeded by two other bulldogs who also bore his name. He was remembered for the special bond he had formed with the students on campus. Etched onto a stone burial marker on the front lawn of the president’s house reads a simple message: “Every Aggie’s Friend.”

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

23

360 Profile

URI GEVA Eagle photo by Timothy Hurst

Know an interesting nominee for a future Brazos 360 proďŹ le? Email us at brazos360@theeagle.com.

URI GEVA

Building the Bombers Story ROB CLARK | Photo TIMOTHY HURST

T

he Brazos Valley Bombers are on an unprecedented run: three championships in three years.

And Uri Geva, the owner of the Texas Collegiate League team, sounds like a proud papa.

“No team in the TCL ever won back-to-back,” he says.

“Very few teams have ever won a three-peat in any sport.

To do a four-peat has never been done in all of summer college baseball across the whole country. And we have an opportunity to do that.”

Geva grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel. His family moved to College Station when he was 14, because his father, a political science professor, earned a sabbatical for a semester at Texas A&M. That turned into an extended stay, then a permanent one. Both of his parents are A&M professors (his mother teaches architecture), and Geva graduated from A&M with a computer science degree in 1998.

After college, Geva started an advertising agency, which then led to building websites — he’s CEO of Infinity Pro Design in Bryan. Geva kicked around bringing a minor league soccer team to town in 2002, then an

indoor football team. His web work included building sites for the Texas Collegiate League, and that eventually led to discussions about starting a local team.

The Brazos Valley Bombers were announced in 2006, and the team started playing at Travis Field the following year. The name connected to the area’s roots: A local team called the Bryan Bombers was part of the Lone Star League in 1947. The Bryan Air Force Base, which was located on what is now the A&M Riverside Campus, inspired its name.

As for the Bombers’ players, the acquisition process is “a very complicated equation,” Geva says, and it’s based largely on relationships. The obvious connection is with Texas A&M, but several former coaches and assistants for the Bombers have gone on to coach at universities, and then have sent some of the best players from those regions — including St. Louis, Tennessee, Arizona and Alabama — over to the Bombers.

“It’s a whole jigsaw puzzle, and that’s why the recruiting is year-round, all the time, to make sure you have a full roster to try to win more championships,” Geva says.

Q&A There’s a lot more that goes on at a Bombers game besides the actual baseball. How does the off-the-field aspect play into it?

This gives you wholesome family fun that wasn’t there before. Kids all the way to grandparents can go out and enjoy it. It’s all about making sure there’s entertainment, that stuff goes on between every half inning, that the kids are engaged, that there’s good music, that we have an active Kid Zone, that we have inflatables, cool mascots. … We’re constantly trying to make sure that it’s a fun evening for those kids.

How did the Bombers’ alternate jersey fun start, like the Batman, Star Wars and American flag jerseys last year?

Minor league baseball is neat in that there’s a lot of idea sharing that happens between teams. If you’re a team

family partnership. We feel we are trying to do our best to take care of the host families, and they do an incredible job of making sure they take care of these kids. That helps, because if the host families are really vested into it, they go to the games with the kids. The player becomes their child, in essence.

Granted, he’s an adult, but it’s a guy that they try to mentor and teach life lessons to. And then that college athlete provides that same lesson back The players from out of town are almost like foreign-exchange students. to — if you’ve got a third-grader or fourth-grader just learning the ropes on What is the “host family” process? how to play the game or how to be a We try to do a good job of matching. better leader, they get that opportunity Sometimes we have host families that back. … They’re really gracious to open have had history with a university or a their homes like that, to feed the school, like “We’re the UTSA family” or players, and then they come to all the “We’re the Memphis family.” Then we try to match them. We ask questions of games and they support the players and the Bombers. They are our fans. the kids and the host families to try to One of the foundations of our success make a good match. We are truly is the host families. blessed that we’ve got a healthy host in Madison, Wisconsin, you don’t mind sharing with the team in Bryan-College Station because we’re not competing.

You might compete for some athletes on the field, but from an entertainment, fun, business side, there’s no competition. We’re an open book with the team from Gastonia, the Gastonia Grizzlies, and once a quarter we get on the phone and do best practices.

25

360 Profile

ADRIENNE and DEAN BRUNDAGE Eagle photo by Timothy Hurst

Know an interesting nominee for a future Brazos 360 proďŹ le? Email us at brazos360@theeagle.com.

ADRIENNE BRUNDAGE

Homebrew Story JOSHUA SIEGEL | Photo TIMOTHY HURST

A

drienne Brundage’s days are divided between bugs and beer.

The entomology professor at Texas A&M is a co-owner of New Republic Brewing Co. In 2008, Brundage moved with her husband Dean from California so she could pursue her Ph.D. in entomology and teach at A&M. Homebrewing beer was popular in California, and they brought the pastime with them to Texas, turning their living room into a fermentation room.

“There wasn’t really an organized homebrew culture here,” Adrienne Brundage said. “There were really no local breweries, so we were homebrewing a heck of a lot more.”

As their recipes improved, the couple gained some local attention. Dean, who is a software developer, was interviewed for a TV news story about homebrewing and was later asked to help put together a beer pairing dinner for Christopher’s World Grille. Adrienne Brundage said that sort of recognition is what sparked them to open New Republic with friends John and Lisa Januskey in 2010.

“In the back of every homebrewer’s head, there’s a little voice saying, ‘You can sell this and people will buy it,’ and that voice got louder,” she said.

At A&M, Brundage teaches students how insects can be used to affect criminal or legal cases, and the basics of how insects interact with humans, animals and diseases. Brundage’s pursuit of a career in forensic entomology happened by chance. While completing her master’s degree in organismal biology at San Jose State, her adviser received work for a case that needed a forensic entomologist, and asked for Brundage’s help.

“I figured out that I could apply this science that I really loved to forensic entomology,” Brundage said. “So, I just changed my whole school trajectory at that point.”

At the brewery, Brundage says, she’s “essentially a cheap scientist,” teaching basic techniques on how to clean the equipment, and detect bacteria or wild yeast in the beer, while also helping with deliveries or tending bar.

The business was a challenge to start, Brundage said.

State requirements and inspections kept New Republic from brewing on site for about half a year. During

that time, the company was able to pick out its current location — tucked away at 11405 N. Dowling Road in College Station — and invest in better equipment than what was in the Brundages’ living room. The six-month gap also allowed them to perfect their recipes. Once a week, the Brundages would invite over a few dozen friends that they called “beta testers.”

“A lot of our beers that we have now, we had early iterations then,” Brundage said. “It would be a fun party to have once a week. … A lot of those people are still around and still show up at the brewery.”

The brewery’s tap room is a large open space. Between large vats and brewing equipment are picnic tables and an exposed second floor with a stable of couches. There is an outdoor backyard area with tables and games (washers and cornhole). On Fridays and Saturdays, the brewery often hosts live music and a food truck.

“We really wanted to make a place that we wanted to hang out,” Brundage said. “We tried to model this as our one place that we have to go every weekend. We really love live music, especially little local bands you don’t see everywhere.”

New Republic has grown “much more than we could have ever imagined,” Brundage said. In addition to being available in many Bryan-College Station bars, restaurants and grocery stores, New Republic’s beers have also begun showing up in the Houston market.

The brewery now offers four year-round beers — a Texas Amber called Dammit Jim!; a Dunkelweizen called Skylight; a blonde called Kadigan; and a double IPA called Whipsaw — in addition to three seasonal offerings.

Brundage attributes a good deal of New Republic’s growth to the local business owners in Bryan-College Station, who embraced the brewery in its infancy. The biggest connection was with small businesses and owners who were empathic toward the growing pains for a new business.

“The local business community isn’t like anything we could have ever imagined,” Brundage said. “Everyone, especially the businesses in Downtown Bryan, is so helpful and so amazing. … There’s a reason we still go back to these tiny bars. We’re going to support these bars hell or high water.”

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

27

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

TUESDAY

September 20th

Brazos County EXPO Complex MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

GERMAN PRETZEL World of Beer

Beer lovers looking to split a bite can try the massive soft pretzel at World of Beer. The tavern’s signature treat comes served on a metal hook, which allows its warm, buttery glaze to drip into the bowls of dipping sauces. It comes with a spicy mustard, but we recommend adding the brown ale beer cheese, a warm, mellow cheese sauce with hints of smoky flavor.

The crunchy exterior of the hanging twist is lightly dusted with kosher salt, but it’s the inside that steals the show. Soft and tender, the core possesses a dash of sweetness that complements its salty skin.

General Manager Jim Baca said the appetizer is one of the more popular items on the menu.

Groups of twenty-somethings crowd the lounge, frequently requesting the pretzel to divvy up among themselves.

“It’s a shareable,” Baca said. “When you have a social group who can get together and sit down, they want to share our food. That’s the way our menu is designed. Everybody can just hang out and enjoy it together.”

— Elizabeth Kamenicky

Details: World of Beer, 425 Northpoint Crossing, Suite 700. worldofbeer. com. Pretzel price: $8 ($2 more with cheese sauce).

Fun Food

continued on Page 30

29

COWBOY ROLL Atami

I

t’s always a little sad when crawfish season ends.

But there are ways to keep the flavor alive, away from the springtime-outdoor-boil variety.

The Cowboy Roll is one of Atami’s sushi rolls with a twist. First, there’s nothing raw involved, so don’t be alarmed if sushi makes you shudder. Fried crawfish tails are stuffed inside the rice, and that alone is worth eating. But Atami wraps a nice slice of lightly seared pepper steak around each piece, and tops it with green onion slivers and ponzu sauce. A quick dip into soy sauce with wasabi makes each bite complete.

Mona Lui, Atami partner and manager, says the Cowboy Roll is one of the most frequently ordered rolls.

“I think the texture, the crawfish combination with the beef, and then the sauce,” she says. “I think the sauce makes the difference. … The sauce is a little spicy and it goes really well with the beef.”

My dining companion ordered a bento box, which came out first, and I was momentarily jealous of all its offerings. Then the Cowboy Roll arrived, and that all went away.

— Rob Clark Details: Atami, 800 E. University Drive, Suite 200. atami-cs.com. Cowboy Roll price: $13.

MAPLE BACON DOUGHNUT Kai’s Doughnuts

A

widely known food fact: Put bacon on just about anything, and it gets infinitely better. Even dishes that are already outstanding — steak, shrimp and scallops, for instance — get a boost when wrapped in bacon.

So a bacon doughnut isn’t necessarily shocking, and it’s not uncommon in gourmet doughnut shops in bigger cities. It’s just not that common around here.

Kai’s Doughnut Co., which opened last year, has lots of interesting options, including doughnuts topped by Fruity Pebbles and peanut butter cups. For bacon lovers, however, those are just distractions when there’s a bacon doughnut sitting there.

“The sweet and savory combination, it’s just something you wouldn’t expect that you would enjoy,” says Danny Taing, the manager at Kai’s. “It reminds you of breakfast — bacon and pancakes with maple syrup. It has a real familiar taste. It’s a nice little treat, a nice little snack.”

Taing says it’s a popular item, and a local church recently ordered 10 dozen. “We go through a lot of them,” he says.

So, how does it taste? How could it not taste great?

The bacon and maple glaze play off each other well, and neither is overpowering. The crispness of the bacon and the soft, chewy doughnut makes for a nice contrast as well.

There was a brief buzz in the newsroom when I brought in the bacon doughnuts. Some intrigue, some repulsion. It even inspired some sarcastic patriotism — ’Merica! — as well. Calories be damned. Free will rules.

— RC Details: Kai’s Doughnut Co., 4201 Wellborn Road.

30

BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

PIZOOKIE BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

T

ALLIGATOR BURGER Swamp Tails

S

omeone find Amos Moses and knock him in the head with a stump. There’s a better way to go alligator hunting, thanks to Swamp Tails.

The restaurant is billed as the “Home of the Alligator Burger.” Jordan Camerino, the restaurant’s general manager, says the Swamp Tails crew was looking for Cajun dishes to serve, and noticed that people enjoyed alligator meat — but it’s not easy to find. They pondered the possibility of a gator burger.

“We had never heard of an alligator burger,” he says. “We looked online, we asked people in Louisiana, and no one seems to have one. So we are the original gator burger.”

The dish isn’t straight gator. Pork is mixed with the gator meat for shape and form purposes, so that it makes a good patty. The burger is nicely seasoned, and is topped with crawfish fondue, so you get a few mudbugs, too. Camerino says it’s Swamp Tails’ most popular sandwich.

“Everybody says it tastes like chicken, and it’s true,” he says of gator meat. “But it’s got a good seafood flavor and a good firmness to it. Generally speaking, it’s got a more hearty bite to it.”

Swamp Tails gets its gator tail meat from a farm in Louisiana, Camerino says. They chop it up for the Gator Bites appetizer, and grind it up for the burgers.

“It holds a great flavor,” he says, “and being able to serve it on a patty, it just works as a good sandwich.”

he dessert with the silly name is a big hit at BJ’s. The Pizookie — pizza + cookie, get it?

— isn’t terribly complex. According to Blake Lahrmann, dining room manager at the restaurant, the cooks use their smallest pizza pan to bake the chocolate chip cookie, then add two scoops of vanilla ice cream on top.

“The Pizookie, here in a college town, it’s very popular,” Lahrmann says. “We have tables come in, late night — 20 people come in and just get Pizookies.”

There are several flavors, including the monkey bread (like a cinnamon roll), salted caramel and triple chocolate.

Our choice was just the basic, straight-up Pizookie.

You wouldn’t think something as simple as a big, soft chocolate chip cookie and ice cream could get three people worked up, but this thing was ridiculously good. We were soon fencing with our forks to get access to the best bites, and we devoured it far faster than we probably should have.

“Everyone has their sweet tooth at night,” Lahrmann says. “It’s kinda perfect. The warm cookie, cold ice cream — something about that just gets everyone.”

— RC Details: BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, 1520 Harvey Road. bjsrestaurant.com. Pizookie price: $6.50.

— RC Details: Swamp Tails, 4353 Wellborn Road. Alligator Burger price: $11.95.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

31

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

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979.680.0508 Sunday-Thursday: 11am to 11pm | Friday-Saturday: 11am to 12am

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2215 15 University Dr • College Statio Station 979.704.6010

TUESDAY

September 20th

Brazos County EXPO Complex

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

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Fashion preview

SHERILYN GILMORE FINE JEWELRY: The Diamond Marriage Symbol necklace starting at $300

Summer Style Advertising Feature

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JIM.N.I: Socksmith Flag Knee High Socks $12.95

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JIM.N.I: Sorial Rubina Tote in Winter White $300 WITT’S END: Escapada Minnie Romper $76 - $82

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

EARTHART: Bronze Torque Bronze & Turquoise $116

SHERILYN GILMORE FINE JEWELRY: VAHAN’s Love Knot bracelet starting at $700

TEXAS ROSE BOUTIQUE: Ranch Royalty Serape Dress paired with Junk Gypsy Trailblazer Boots and Johnny Loves June accessories Prices start at $48

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EARTHART: Turquoise with Druzy Jade Blue Topaz Parade $795

WITT’S END: Aratta Apparel $112 - $128

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

2010 Business Performance Award

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

FIREWORKS AND FUN

AT THE GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

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he George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is proud to host the College Station Noon Lions Club’s Fourth of July “I Love America” Celebration July 4, 2016 at the Bush Presidential Library Center at Texas A&M University.

The museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with free admission

for everyone all day; building closes at 8:30 p.m. Concessions begin at 5:30 p.m. and live music entertainment at 6 p.m., including live performances by Xchange.

The Kids’ Zone, complete with games and bounce houses for children, will be open from 6 - 8:30 p.m. The evening will culminate with a performance by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and

fireworks show.

Free Parking is available at Fan Field, the gravel parking lot on Research Parkway on the Texas A&M University campus. For more information visit Bush41.org or call 691-4014.

For more information, visit bush41.org and click on the events tab.

Come join us at the George Bush Presidential Library this Summer!

Exhibit Ends January 8, 2017

1000 G EORGE B USH D R. W EST C OLLEGE S TATION , T EXAS 77845

bush41.org

979.691.4000

@bush41

July

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The 56th Annual I love America

4th of July Celebration

9:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Music • Games • Concessions • Free Museum Entry Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra • Fireworks

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CSISD Superintendent Dr. Clark Ealy and Deputy Superintendent Mike Martindale with their Mi Casa Es Souper Casa.

KAGS’s Sean Walraven, Roby Somerford and Luke Simons with their turkey and ham tortilla rolls.

50 Men Who Can Cook February

Brazos County Expo

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he College Station Independent School District Education Foundation hosted its ninth annual 50 Men Who Can Cook in February at the Brazos County Expo.

ABOVE: Derek Halling and Doug Hahn with Texas A&M Medical Sciences Library in their booth, “Getting Adventurous with Fungi.”

RIGHT: A&M Consolidated Middle School Principal Jeff Mann serving green enchilada soup.

The event featured samples of dishes made by school representatives and community members. All proceeds benefit the CSISD Education Foundation, which raises money for teacher grants, student scholarships and Success 24/7, an online learning website.

Photos TERESA BENDEN

Representing The Bryan-College Station Eagle: Ken Dupré, Geoff Moore and Jesse Wright cookin’ up Top Story Jambalaya.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

Jeff Hora with Goosehead Insurance, Oakwood Principal Josh Symank and A&M Consolidated Assistant Principal Omar Espitia cooked up the Heart & Soul Baked Potato Roll.

David O’Neil and Brad Wade with Wells Fargo proudly display their America’s Community Bank Gold Nuggets.

9th Annual 50 Men Who Can Cook Winners — Best Appetizer/Salad/Side: Jeff Horak, Omar Espitia, Josh Symank and Rocco Grande; Best Soup/Chili: Kyle Whileyman, Ryan Pacher and Jordan Landry; Best Entree: Will Patterson and Sean Pruski; Best Dessert: Scott McCollum and Billy Couch; Best Decorated Booth: Ron Fox and Paul Dorsett; and Most Tickets Sold: John Morgan and Joe Ayala.

ABOVE: KBTX’s Rusty Surette and Max Crawford serving up sausage gumbo.

RIGHT: Marching in with their Di’vine Porcine: Timber Academy staff Randall Pratt, Josh Bowling and Jay Pritchard.

ABOVE: Texas Representatives Kyle Kacal and John Raney with their “Red State” Venison Chili.

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TOP PHOTOS: College Station prom.

Shannon Cysewski and Joey Orsak at the Rudder prom.

High School proms

May 5th, 12th & 21st

Various locations

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rea high school students attended their proms recently. The A&M Consolidated prom was May 5 at the Brazos County Expo.

Bryan High’s event was May 12 at the College Station Hilton. College Station High School attended prom at the MSC’s Bethancourt Ballroom on May 12. Rudder High School danced the night away on May 21, also at the Hilton.

Photos STEPHANIE SWORD & BRYAN SMITH ABOVE: Maddison Harold and Dimitri Moody at the Bryan prom.

RIGHT: Jared Earnest, Maggie Pourrajabi, Sonia Pinto, Kalissa Cernuch and Brianna Stricklin at the Consol prom. BELOW: Chris Hines and Daniela Gonzalez at the Consol prom.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

ABOVE: Edgar Rodriguez and Ally Ottaway at the Bryan prom.

BELOW: Caleb Cervenka and Kloie James at the Rudder prom.

BELOW: Ayden Rodriguez and Elyssa Stebbins at the Consol prom.

ABOVE: Ryan Owens, Tajia Foster and Jamaal Moss at the Consol prom.

LEFT: Grayson McGee and Taylor Rosser at the Bryan prom.

Mia Miller, Zoey Woodard, Alexandra Leal, Lauren Miller, Alexandria Woodard, Lauren O’Neal and Kaleb Jenkins at the Bryan prom.

ABOVE: Shyann Bordieri, Kylee Wager and Brittany Pivonki at the Rudder prom. LEFT: Sam Armstrong, Mackensie Williams, Rachel Barnes and Levernice Morgan at the Rudder prom.

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RIGHT: Katie Kinman, Jonathan Wyatt and Amanda Kinble.

Landon Charles, Tyler Drozd and Charles Almaza.

Brazos County Go Red

May 5th

ABOVE: Nikki Pederson and Sharon Merrell. RIGHT: Ashlee Fulghum and Carrie Relles.

College Station Hilton

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he local chapter of the American Heart Association held its annual Brazos County Go Red luncheon. The fundraising event aims to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke.

Photos DAVE McDERMAND

ABOVE: Penny Dunn, Ricardo Diaz and Donovan French. RIGHT: Marianne RufďŹ no, Mary Mike Hatcher and Debbie Bearden.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

ABOVE: Tina Weido, Natalie Ruiz and Jane Kee. RIGHT: Angela Dean, Jackie Calan and Pamela Williams.

ABOVE: Joyce Sutherland and Peggy Van Meter. LEFT: Attendees of the Brazos County Go Red luncheon seated at their tables.

ABOVE: Kay Rice, Katy Pounds and Kathy Joyce. LEFT: Linda De Gaas, Theresa Connaughton and Brenda RumďŹ eld.

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RIGHT: Pat Hlozek, Jeanne Lueck, and Keith Halsell BELOW: Kate Jauch and Jan Coats.

Doing the Most Good May 6th

College Station Hilton

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he Salvation Army’s annual “Doing the Most Good” banquet was May 5, 2016, at the College Station Hilton. The speaker was Jim Morris, a former Major League Baseball player and author of The Rookie. Proceeds support The Salvation Army’s programs in Brazos County.

Photos DAVE McDERMAND ABOVE: Jim and Shawnn Morris.

ABOVE: Debbi Wood and Raymond Wood.

RIGHT: Jennifer Cotton, Sierra Walker and Marty Murphy.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

ABOVE: Tucker Smith and James Smith. BELOW: Ruth Newton and Karen Thomas.

ABOVE: Trianna Levi, Alex Medrano and Jenna Mowad. LEFT: Rabecca Cardona. RIGHT: Phil Springer and John Halsell.

ABOVE: Lashunda Chatham. LEFT: Glenn Boone, Karen Boone, Philip Nobles and Charmen Catlin. BELOW: Jay Don Watson.

ABOVE: Paul Bratt.

ABOVE RIGHT: Sam and Carolyn Lampo.

BELOW RIGHT: Carol Wagner and Jeremy Walker.

ABOVE: Oscar and Nancy Beard.

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RIGHT: Margie and Melvin Ubernosky and Mary Kosh.

ABOVE: Calvin and Sharon Jeffery.

BELOW: Billie Lee and Lucy Peterson.

LEFT: B.J. Albert, Juanita Cliett and Gussie Simon

Seniors Expo

May 18th

Brazos County Expo

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he 15th annual Seniors Expo drew more than 1,500 attendees.

The free event featured 136 vendor booths, informative seminars and entertainment.

Photos DAVE McDERMAND

ABOVE: Attendees browse booths at the event. RIGHT: A.C. and Teresa Vinzant, Ann Hays and Jim Bruffett.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

ABOVE: Janice Drees and Marlene Durham. BELOW: Ettie and Mike Orts.

LEFT: Joyce Hurley, Carl Roesler, Dennis Hurley and Lorraine Roesler.

ABOVE: Luci and Frank Cash.

ABOVE: Evelyn Golden and Bill Cross.

LEFT: Friends embrace at the event.

ABOVE: Annie Trujillo, Lupe and Robert Mendez, Paul Trujillo. RIGHT: Robert Williams with Wendy Ashmore and Kathryn Vanadore.

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What’s in your

OFFICE? Photos TIMOTHY HURST

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By BEN DOWNS general manager, Bryan Broadcasting

’m pretty comfortable in my office. I have one of the best views in town overlooking the east side of College Station. And since the Rudder Freeway is right outside, I can always avoid traffic backups. If you ever want to know how the traffic is flowing, you can call me.

I really enjoy the dual monitors on my computer; it completely changed the way I work. But so did the new version of Office. I’ve worn the paint off the F1 help key since I upgraded.

The stations (WTAW 1620, Zone 1150, Candy 95, Maverick 100.9, Peace 107, Fusion Radio) have been in Crystal Park Plaza for 22 years. We enjoy being able to walk onto the balcony and see A&M and Kyle Field. Of course, it has been years since the view didn’t include construction cranes.

People who are big fans of Star Trek (they’re Trekkers, not trekkies) will immediately spot that my desk has a Tribble on it. This one actually purrs and jumps around if you touch the top. While that’s an amusing toy for guests to play with, I often wonder about people who don’t ask about it. I wonder if they leave my office questioning why I have a ball of fur just sitting on the edge of the desk.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

I do tend to put toys on my desk. I’ve never been so rude as to flip the hourglass (actually about 10 minutes) over when a visitor stops by, but I guess the threat is always there. I’m seldom in a rush to hurry visitors along; I’ve always said my greatest management gift is the ability to sleep with my eyes open.

The hat was for my very first duty with the Chamber of Commerce. I served as Carnac the Magnificent at Ladies Night.

While it looks quite realistic, it’s actually just an upside-down cat bed, covered in really shiny cloth ... with feathers. My only requirement was it had to be unused. It was supposed to be returned and stored for future use, so I hope the Chamber has forgotten they wanted it back.

In the early days of radio, announcers were licensed by the FCC. My license was first issued in 1968. When the licensing stopped, there were so few of us around, the FCC would write “Expired” on the front and send your copy back to you. I’m not entirely comfortable with the idea that my ticket is expired.

I manage my workflow by piles. And yes, there’s a stack where I put stuff that I hope eventually goes away or expires, like vacation request forms. I don’t mind having a messy desk; usually by Friday I’ve gotten to the point you can see that my desk is brown and has glass on the top.

Like all gentlemen of a certain age, my office has a good supply of memorabilia. I got lucky and was able to find the RCA 44 microphone I used on my first day in radio.

That station was moving and was willing to sell me the microphone. It’s about 80 years old and is enjoying retirement.

I steal pens. But I hasten to add that I only steal pens when I’m traveling, and with permission. It’s a great conversation starter to loan somebody a pen from Ritz-Carlton. I never got those back though, so the quest for hotel pens never ends.

The front corner of my desk is the home for traveling exhibits. At Christmastime there’s a little crèche; for Valentine’s Day I stock candy.

Right now is political season. I’m a fundraiser for a non-partisan (but cheap) political action committee, and when you raise $100,000 they give you exactly two squeeze toys. Nobody likes to play with them, though. Which is sort of a metaphor for the national campaigns.

The absurdity of Blue Man Group appeals to me, and I’ve seen their show several times in several venues, including Rudder Auditorium. As part of their show, they crunch down on paint balls and spray a spinning canvas. The sales department went to Vegas as a group and brought this back to me as a gift from the show they saw. When I take it down to show people that it’s original, I think it best to not dwell on how much human DNA is on that canvas.

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Change is good, but not when it comes to principles. At SIG Insurance Services, LLC we’re not about to change the way we treat our customers. As your local insurance agency, we’ll help you find the best insurance options, and we’ll be there to help if you have a claim.

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From left to right: (seated) Ross Eller,Trish Eller, Missy Pollard, Carolyn Keane; (standing) Jennifer Amaro, Julie Dukes, Calvin Daughtry, Cameron Hicks, Angie Estlund, Craig Barclay, Julie Boyd and Kylie Dorman.

Not pictured: Shelly Barclay, Mark Cangelose, Eric Jones, Susan Jones and Michael Miller.

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BRAZOS 360 | SUMMER 2016

LOUD NOISES!

The Last Word

Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Recorder

“NEW RULE: If I am in the house and I am breathing, no recorder playing.”

I was kidding. Mostly. I wouldn’t want her to get a bad grade. But here are certain things that make parents groan when man, that sound. It rivals some of children bring them home: life’s most irritating noises: a mosquito buzz in your ear, car alarms a stern note from a teacher, a new that won’t stop and the slurppet of any kind, head lice. chomp-smack of that co-worker Chalk up the who refuses to close his mouth recorder — when he chews. that enduring Then again, I’m guilty of making instrument of my parents’ ears bleed as a child. childhood fun My instrument was the clarinet, and parental and my nemesis was The Man on the dread — as Flying Trapeze. He was a better man part of that ROB CLARK rob.clark@ than I, and my interest faded after group as well. theeagle.com a year.

Momentary There’s no way to tell if my daughnostalgia ter will go on to rival Ron Burgunmay kick in initially: “Oh, look, I dy’s jazz-flute prowess, or if she’ll remember the recorder.” It’s when the child starts “practicing,” and the be the one to finally knock Zamfir off of his pan-flute perch. For a high-pitched cacophony of broken little insight, I turned to Stephanie notes and misfires begins. Flu-ridMorris, the music teacher at Spring den donkeys make prettier noises.

Creek Elementary. She explained My daughter, a third-grader, that third- and fourth-graders learn proudly brought her new recorder the recorder because it’s the best way home several months ago. Within an hour, the sound was excruciating. to teach them how to read music.

“If you just talk about reading “New rule,” I announced. “No music — ‘Eh, whatever’ — it goes in recorder playing while I’m in the one ear and out the other,” she says. room.”

“They don’t actually have a way to She laughed. I was serious. apply it until they start playing an After another day or so, with the instrument like the recorder.” recorder whine audible from the The students start out with simple next room, an amendment was two-note patterns. Then they add a necessary.

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note (Mary Had a Little Lamb), then another (four-note songs include Old MacDonald Had a Farm and When the Saints Go Marching In.) Morris does acknowledge the household cringing that may go on around kids with recorders. They haven’t gained control over their air and their fingers at first, she says.

Hence the audible wobbles.

“The fine motor skills are really necessary to play this instrument,” she says. “So at the beginning, it’s very difficult to get a good sound.

But I think parents find that as we go along, they are amazed how quickly the kids can sound a lot more mature, and actually musical.”

She’s right: Ode to Joy, the most complex song the kids studied toward the end of the school year, sounded a lot better than the unrecognizable jumble of gasps and blurts a few months earlier.

The progress is impressive. So I do recognize the value of the whole experience.

But more than anything else, my daughter’s enthusiasm finally broke me down. It was pretty smart how she did it, using my favorite song as bait.

“Dad, if I learn how to play Purple Rain, then can I play the recorder in the house?”

Sweet kid. Clever idea.

“Yes,” I said with a defeated grin. “In your room, with the door closed.”

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